“GÜNSEL”, The First Domestic Car of TRNC introduced

Detailed information about the trademark, brand and technical features of the first domestic car that, was created by the R&G teams, Innovation and Information Technologies Centre and Department of Automotive Engineering of Near East University and aimed to be produced in TRNC, was provided and an identical model of the car to be produced was shared with the TRNC ministers, press members and gurests.

According to the press info released by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations Office of the Near East University, the press meeting for the introduction o the first ever domestic car of TRNC was realized at the Exhibition Hall of Hospital of Near East University with a broad participation including Kutlu Evren, Minister of Interior Affairs, Kemal Dürüst, Minister of Transportation and Public Works, Özdemir Berova, Minister of National Education and Culture, Sunat Atun, Minister of Economy and Energy, Faiz Sucuoğlu, Minister of Health, Fikri Ataoğlu, Minister of Tourism and Environment, members of TRNC Parliament, Suat İ. Günsel, Founding Rector of Near East University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan S. Günsel, Chairman of Board of Trustees of Near East University, Cemre Günsel Haskasap, Founding Rector of University of Kyrenia, Prof. Dr. Ümit Hassan, Rector of Near East University, Vice Rectors, deans, academicians and over 50 foreign and local press members.

The press meeting started with the opening speeches delivered by Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan S. Günsel, Chairman of Board of Trustees of NEU, Kemal Dürüst, Minister of Transportation and Public Affairs, Özdemir Berova, Minister of National Education and Cultur, and Sunat Atun, Minister of Economy and Energy.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Günsel: “The dream now turned into reality, we now aim to start mass production very soon…”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan Günsel, taking the first speech at the press meeting said the guests would now witness a dream turning into reality and the moment which the scientists first see the prototype of their efforts lasted many years.
Günsel, stating that a dream lasting 50 years now has turned into reality, said that the number of 9 is the lucky and especial number of Günsel Family, and he was born on 9 October 35 years ago, and now was born the first domestic car on the same date.

The journey started with a dream…

Günsel pointed out that the journey of producing the domestic car started with the childhood dreams of Dr. Suat Günsel, Founding Rector of Near East University, and when he was a child, he was making car models from clay soil and dreaming that he would establish a car factory, and watch the pairs traveling especially on the red roadster cars, their hairs waving in the air. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Günsel emphasized that the dream started more than 50 years ago has now been materialized.

Importance of producing a domestic car

Günsel emphasized the importance of producing a domestic car in his speech and said that the countries owning the car production technology have solid powers in global terms, and continued “We all know how difficult is producing cars for countries. Creating a worldly-renowned car will bring in prestige, power and privilege to our country. We, as the Near East Family, have made all our investments to gain prestige and privilege for our country. We did all these to develop our country. Now our aim is establishing the car production factory within a short while and start mass production. Our aim is making our country take part not only amongst the countries using automotive technologies, but taking part amongst the countries producing, developing and exporting automotive technologies”.

Günsel; “The figure of shield symbolizes the mother, who saves, protects and holds the family together…”

Günsel mentioned about the logo designed for Günsel and said “The logo visualizing “GÜNSEL” as a surname is in the shape of a shield which is decorated with the letter “g” (at the same time, evoking the numeric figure of “9”) and 3 electric circuits. The figure of shield symbolizes the mother, who saves, protects and holds the family together; the letter “g” symbolizes the father who gives his surname to the family; the figure which is perceived as “9” symbolizes the lucky number of the family, and the electric circuits symbolize the three siblings of the family.”

Elegant, efficient, innovative…

Following the video show of Günsel, Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan Günsel spoke about the technical and physical details of the car and said “We were impressed from Mouflon, one of the symbols of our island. Günsel has been freely designed in line with physical features of Mouflon which has elegant and strong lines. We are using the slogan of “Elegant, Efficient and Innovative” for Günsel. Günsel is using the electric power which is the power soure of future automotive technologies. The Stone Age ended not because of the stones consumed or finished all around the world, this era ended because of the developments in human life. And now, we decided to produce an electric car not because the oil reserves ended in the world, but because of the technological developments and the need to protect the ecological balance.

Technical specifications

Assoc. Prof. Dr. explaining the technical specifications in detail, said “Günsel will be able to cover a distance of 350 km with a fully charged battery. Considering the current electric prices, this journey will cost about 17.4 Turkish Lira, and a 100 km journey will cost approximately 4,90 Turkish Lira. As Günsel compared with the other cars in its class operating with fuel, Günsel is 80% more cost efficient and incomparably environmental friendly than other cars. Günsel has an electric motor that has 75 KW power equivalent to 102 horse power. Günsel can reach 100 km speed within 8 seconds and comprises a generative brake system. It has an aluminum chassis and a composite body. As it has an electric motor, the care and use of this car is extremely easy. It can be recharged within 7 hours by using the regular electric plugs, within 2 hours by using the standard charge units and within only 30 minutes at Günsel recharge centers that will be established at various locations. Günsel is a new generation, silent, elegant, innovative and very much cost effective car.

GÜNSEL will soon show up on the roads of the country she was born in, will proudly serve to both our people and to the other people of the world, and, as an eigenvalue of our country, she will surely take her place in the history of technology. As GÜNSEL keeps going on her way, we, the Near East Family, however, will not halt!!!…We will continue to be impressed and inspired from the exclusive strength that we inherited from our roots and history, and keep on advancing confidently towards the horizons…We will build and write our history together, we will build our future together.

Following the presentation of Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan S. Günsel, Kemal Dürüst, Minister of Transportation and Public Works, Özdemir Berova, Minister of National Education and Culture, and Sunat Atun, Minister of Economy and Energy, delivered speeches and praised the advancements made by the R&D teams of the Near East University, expressed their delight for witnessing such an advancement in technology, and promised to contribute the advertising and marketing process of the car.